Sending of Russian air forces to Syria carried out upon request from Syrian state
30 September، 2015
Damascus, SANA

In response to questions about the presence of Russian air forces in Syria, the Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic said that the sending of Russian air forces was carried out upon a request of the Syrian state conveyed via a letter sent by President Bashar al-Assad to President Vladimir Putin.

A statement issued by the Presidency said that after the Russian Federation Council ratified a bill allowing President Putin to deploy Russian air forces abroad, questions were directed to the Presidency about the formula regulating the presence of Russian air forces in Syria, and the statement asserted that relations between states are governed by international accords, laws, and agreements signed between states for realizing their peoples’ interests and guaranteeing the safety and integrity of their lands.

The statement said that based on that, the sending of Russia air forces to Syria was carried out upon the request of the Syrian state via a message sent by President al-Assad and President Putin which included an invitation to send Russian air forces within the framework of President Putin’s initiative to combat terrorism.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday afternoon the start of Russian airstrikes against ISIS sites in Syria.

RT quoted the Defense Ministry as saying that several special strikes have been directed at sites for ISIS terrorist organization in several areas in Syria.

In the same context, a military source told SANA that in implementation of the agreement between Syria and Russia to combat international terrorism and eliminate ISIS, Russian aircrafts, in cooperation with the Syrian army’s Air Force, launched on Wednesday a number of airstrikes against ISIS dens in al-Rastan, Talbeisa, al-Zaafran, al-Tolol al-Humr, Aydon, Deir Fol and the area surrounding Salmia in the central region in Syria, achieving direct hits and inflicting heavy losses upon the terrorist organization.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic said that the sending of Russian air forces to Syria was carried out upon a request of the Syrian state conveyed via a letter sent by President Bashar al-Assad to President Vladimir Putin, and that this comes within the framework of President Putin’s initiative for combating terrorism.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense has released a video showing a military jet striking Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) targets in Syria

Russia Deploys Five More Fighter Jets in Syria to Strengthen Airstrikes on ISIL

TEHRAN (FNA)- Informed sources said that the Russian Air Force reportedly transported five more fighter jets to the Syrian coastal city of Tartous in what looks to be the beginning stages of their massive aerial campaign against the ISIL terrorists group and its affiliates.

For the last two weeks, the Russian Air Force has conducted a number of reconnaissance flights above the provinces of Deir Ezzur, Hasaka, Raqqa, Aleppo, Sweida, Damascus, and Homs; this was an attempt by the Russians to gather a physical visual of the terrorist group’s positions around Syria’s vast desert landscape.

In addition to their reconnaissance flights, the Russian Air Force has relied on their satellite imagery to capture the terrorist group’s movements along their main supply routes that stretch from the Northwestern Syrian province of Aleppo to the Iraqi province of Anbar; this has helped them pinpoint the ISIL locations inside Syria.

According to military sources in the Lattakia governorate, the Russian Air Force has positioned themselves to begin massive airstrikes in a number of Syrian provinces, including Deir Ezzur, Hasaka, Aleppo, Homs, and Raqqa.

Military Aircraft Russia Uses in Syria Operations

TEHRAN (FNA)- The chairman of the Russian State Duma’s defense committee Wednesday named the possible warplanes which are to be used by the Russian Air Force against the ISIL terrorist group in Syria.

“Of course, preference will be given to aviation – ground attack aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft – these are our Sukhoi type planes, in particular Su-25 “Grach”. Also fighter-bomber planes can be used as they are universal,” Admiral Vladimir Komoyedov told Itar-Tass.

“Certainly helicopters, that are capable of hitting these aims (the ISIL),” he added. In reply to the question why an air operation had been decided upon, he said “first of all, these operations bring minimum losses”.

“Secondly, the ISIL does not have air defense system, may be just portable Stinger (air defense systems),” he continued. “Thirdly, if aircraft are used correctly, it is an efficient means of destruction, especially on desert-like terrain,” he added.

The expert also noted that Russian Army forces in Syria will be needed to protect Russian airbases used in the operation of the Russian Air Force against Islamic State.

“Of course, some ground troops will be necessary. Not to conduct an offensive or a combat operation, but to protect our sites where aircraft, our councilors, etc. are stationed,” Admiral Komoyedov told the agency.

In reply to the question whether it would be necessary to send warships, the admiral said “a naval group is already deployed there on a permanent basis.

“As far as I am informed, the Moskva (guided missile) cruiser is already there, and a Chinese aircraft carrier has arrived,” he noted. According to him, “enough forces are concentrated there to support air and ground operations”.

Earlier on Wednesday, the upper house of Russian parliament granted permission to the Russian president to use the Russian Armed Forces in Syria. “The Federation Council unanimously supported the president’s request – 162 votes in favor (of granting permission),” Russian presidential administration chief Sergey Ivanov said. The armed forces will be used exclusively in Syria, he added.

Despite the US’ agitation and criticism, Russia is going through with its planned aerial campaign, which will ultimately lead to a battle of “who is more effective” in the fight against the ISIL.

A citizen was killed and 13 others were injured on Wednesday due to terrorist attacks with rocket shells on residential neighborhoods in Homs city.

A source at Homs province told SANA reporter that terrorists based in the northern countryside of Homs fired seven rocket shells which landed in al-Haj Attif Square in al-Mahta neighborhood, Shurta housings and al-Arman neighborhoods, al-Moaslalt
rotary and the area surrounding Jamil Sarhan School in Wadi al-Dahab neighborhood in the city, killing a citizen and injuring 13 others.

The source added that the attacks caused huge material damage to citizens’ properties.

A child was killed and four others injured when a mortar shell struck al-Wafideen camp in Damascus countryside.

A police source told SANA that a shell that terrorists fired fell on a house at Street 14 inside the camp which is located on the outskirts of Douma northern farms, killing a 9-year-old child and wounding three of his siblings, aged 3, 5 and 11.

A 5-year-old girl child was also wounded, according to the source.

The attack left material damage in the area.

Meanwhile, a civilian was injured in a terrorist attack with rocket shells which were fired by terrorist organizations on Mhardeh city in Hama province.

A source in the police command said that terrorists positioned in al-Lattamneh town continued their attacks on Mhardeh for the second day by targeting the city with nine rocket shells which left a civilian injured and caused material damage to local’s houses and properties.

Terrorist organizations targeted Mhardeh on Tuesday with 11 rocket shells fired by terrorist organizations from the city, causing material damage to locals’ houses, shops and cars without any casualties among civilians.

Manar al-Frieh/Manal

Army kills scores of terrorists, destroys their equipment in several provinces
30 September، 2015
Provinces, SANA

Units of the army and the armed forces carried out intensified operations against terrorists on Wednesday, targeting their positions, movements and hideouts and inflicting heavy losses upon them.

Aleppo

Army units carried out last night and on Wednesday morning intensive operations against terrorists’ positions in the northern Aleppo province.

A military source told SANA that the operations were centered in the villages and towns of Deir Hafer, Baqja, Blat, al-Salehiyeh, Rayyan, Jabboul, al-Sheikh Lutfi, Toloul al-Hatabat, al-Naam, al-Sabien, Ayyoub and near the thermal station in the eastern countryside of the province.

The source said many terrorists were killed, most of them from Jabhat al-Nusra, and a number of their hideouts and machinegun-equipped vehicles were destroyed in the operations.

Meanwhile, the army units defending the Air Force Academy destroyed a number of ISIS hideouts, with terrorists, arms and ammunition inside, in the surroundings of the Academy, located on the international highway leading to Raqqa.

An army unit also inflicted heavy losses upon terrorists as it targeted their dens and positions in al-Mansoura village.

More terrorists were killed and others were injured and a number of their vehicles and mortar launchers were destroyed in operations against their positions in the neighborhoods of Karm Maisar, Karm al-Jabal, al-Layramoun, Bustan al-Basha and al-Sakhour in Aleppo City.

Hama

Army units intensified operations against terrorists of Jabhat al-Nusra and the so-called “Jaish al-Fateh” in the northern countryside of Hama province.

Field sources told SANA that an army unit destroyed two vehicles equipped with machine guns belonging to terrorists on a road linking Kafr Zita and al-Zakat towns.

In the northwestern countryside of the province, a large number of terrorists were killed and others were injured and one of their armored vehicles was destroyed as an army unit fired a rocket on their positions in al-Latamneh town.

The Army’s air force destroyed terrorists’ dens to the east of Morek in Hama countryside.

Homs

The army’s air force destroyed dens for ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organizations near al-Shaer oil field to the north-west of Palmyra.

The army’s raids killed a number of the ISIS terrorists and inflicted them heavy losses.

The army’s air force also killed a number of ISIS terrorists and destroyed their cells in Hanoura and al-Qaryateen villages to the east of Homs.

Earlier, terrorist organizations acknowledged the death of three of their leaders in the past few hours in Talbisa town to the north of Homs city.

Terrorist organizations acknowledged on their social media pages the killing of: Ahmad Hasan Khashfa a leader “Jaish al-Tawhid”, Abdul-Muhaimen al-Agha the president of “al-Zaafarana Court” and Akram Haj Eissa, who is chairman of “Board of Talbisa Scholars”.

Quneitra

An army unit targeted last night Jabhat al-Nusra-linked terrorist groups in the village of Trinja in the countryside of the southern Quneitra province.

A number of terrorists were killed, including Ashraf al- Hourani of the so-called “Ahrar Nawa Battalion” during the army operations, in addition to destroying their vehicles, weapons and ammunition.

Another army unit killed and injured a number of Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists and destroyed their weapons and equipment in Bait Jinn Farm in the northern countryside of the province.

In another context, SANA reporter said terrorists fired rockets on the villages of Hadar, Khan Arnabeh and Harfa, causing material damage to houses and public and private properties.
Daraa

An Army unit carried out an accurate operation against dens and gatherings of “Jabhat al-Nusra” and other terrorist organizations in Daraa al-Balad neighborhood in Daraa.

The operation resulted in killing many terrorists and destroying their weapons to the southwest of Syriatel Building Daraa al-Balad neighborhood.

Syrian Army Cuts off Terrorists’ Supply Lines in Aleppo Countryside

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian army carried out massive operations against the Takfiri terrorists’ positions in the countryside of Aleppo, cutting off the militants’ supply lines in the region.

The source disclosed that a large number of Takfiri terrorists, most of them from the Al-Nusra Front, were killed.

The Syrian troops also destroyed the hideouts and DshK-equipped vehicles of the terrorists.

Meantime, other army units that were in charge of defending the Air Force Academy destroyed the ISIL hideouts, killing tens of terrorists and destroying their arms depot.

The clashes occurred on the international highway leading to the province of Raqqa.

The Syrian army also inflicted heavy losses on the terrorists in al-Mansoura village.

Earlier today, Syria’s Kurdish forces further tightened a week-long siege of the terrorists in the city of Aleppo.

The sources said that the People’s Protection Units (YPG) fighters in heavy clashes with Al-Nusra militants retook further districts in Aleppo after their full control over Sheikh Maqsud district on Monday.

The Takfiri terrorists are about to lose the remaining districts in Aleppo city every hour.

Syrian Army Storms ISIL Positions in Sweida Province

TEHRAN (FNA)- Military sources said that the Syrian forces raided the ISIL Takfiri terrorists’ strongholds in the Northern territories of Sweida, and killed a large number of the militants in the last 24 hours.

The army units pounded the ISIL’s hideouts in Kherbet Sa’d in Eastern Badiya (desert) of Sweida, a military source said.

The Syrian army’s operation left tens of terrorists dead and dozens more injured as well as destroying their arms depot.

The source said that the Syrian National Defense Forces are attempting to cutoff the ISIL main supply route to the province, while recapturing the hilltops in the Northern Sweida.

Also in the past 24 hours, the Syrian army conducted military operations in Daraa, killing and injuring a large group of terrorists.

The army troops targeted militants’ concentration centers in Tafas city, 13 km to the North of Daraa city, killing a group of terrorists, and destroying their weapons, a military source said.

The army also targeted hideouts of terrorists from al-Nusra Front and the so-called “Al-Muthanna Movement”, “Ahrar al-Sham Movement” and “Al-Omari Brigades” in Daraa al-Balad and Daraa al-Mahatta neighborhoods in Daraa city, killing and injuring a number of terrorists.

Elsewhere, the Syrian government forces killed a group of terrorist ringleaders in Homs province.

The army killed the terrorists in al-Houleh area in the Northwestern countryside of Homs.

Meantime, the Syrian army killed over 30 terrorists in the province of Aleppo on Tuesday.

Field sources said that more than 30 terrorists were killed in military operations in Aleppo and its countryside. A number of the militants’ machinegun-equipped vehicles and cars were also destroyed.

The army targeted terrorist groups’ positions in Deir Hafer in Aleppo countryside.

Clashes erupted between the Syrian army and ISIL terrorists in the vicinity of the village of Salhieh in East Aleppo.

The Syrian army also clashed with terrorist groups on Karem Al-Tarab front in the city of Aleppo.

Also, informed sources said that after the Israeli army shelled the government-held areas in Golan Heights, militants of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and al-Nusra Front launched a new offensive on the Syrian soldiers’ positions to capture the remaining villages inside the Golan Heights.

The sources said that the FSA and Nusra militants stormed the National Defense Forces’ (NDF) positions at Tal Taranjah, Mazra’a Al-Amil, Tal Hamriyah, and Tal Al-Ahmar, resulting in a series of intense firefights that took most of the Monday morning and afternoon before they dissipated due to the coming nightfall.

The militant groups received a boost from their Israeli allies on Sunday after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) shelled the heights with several rockets.

This was not the first time that the Israeli Armed Forces have attacked the Syrian army inside the Golan Heights: in early August, the Israeli Air Force repeatedly struck the Syrian army in the towns of Hadar and Khan Al-Sheikh after the Israeli forces’ Spokesperson reported that a missile entered Upper Galilee from the Syrian border.

Last year, the Israeli forces struck the Syrian army at the UN Ceasefire Border-Crossing after they alleged a rocket entered Israel from Al-Quneitra; this paved the way for the al-Qaeda- affiliated al-Nusra Front to take full-control over this border-crossing.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Syria’s Kurdish forces further tightened a week-long siege of the terrorists in the city of Aleppo on Wednesday.

The sources said that the People’s Protection Units (YPG) fighters in heavy clashes with Al-Nusra militants retook further districts in Aleppo after their full control over Sheikh Maqsud district on Monday.

The Takfiri terrorists are about to lose the remaining districts in Aleppo city every hour.

On Monday, the local sources said that the YPG had stormed the Al-Nusra Front strongholds near Aleppo.

The YPG forces Sheikh Maqsud district on Monday, the local sources said.

On Sunday, the YPG forces stormed the strongholds of al-Nusra Front.

“Rebels of al-Nusra Front and al-Shamia Front have been besieged by the YPG forces for weeks near Sheikh Maqsud district,” the sources said.

“The rebels attacked two YPG checkpoints in an attempt to break the siege, then clashes broke out causing the death and injury of several fighters on both sides,” the source said.

The source said that four Kurdish civilians were killed after being hit with mortar shells fired by Nusra militants.

The YPG forces seized the Castello road which links the Northern neighborhoods of Aleppo city with the Eastern districts. The road has been used by Nusra militants and allied groups as a supply line during battles against government forces in the city.